Effective September 1, 2019 STATE OF OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE: HISTORY - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

2019 REVISIONS TO OHIO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 3701-62 DO NOT RESUSCITATE PROTOCOL AND THE STATE OF OHIO DNR ORDER FORM

PRESENTATION FOR EMS

Effective September 1, 2019

STATE OF OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE: HISTORY AND PURPOSE

• The State of Ohio DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Comfort Care program was created under the jurisdiction of

the Ohio Department of Health and initially became effective on May 20, 1999 as an additional option for advance directives

• The Ohio DNR Comfort Care program is accessible to patients of all ages and provides a choice of two
• ptions, DNR Comfort Care and DNR Comfort Care Arrest, for all enrollees including, but not limited to,

those with chronic or terminal medical conditions

• The Ohio DNR Comfort Care program is the only form of advance directive with the following features:

Honored by EMS (emergency medical services) upon identification of the DNR Comfort Care logo Transportable (does not have to be reinstated with each healthcare facility admission or transfer) Provides civil liability protection for healthcare providers who follow the DNR Comfort Care Protocol

• The most recent revision of the State of Ohio DNR Comfort Care regulations are effective on September

1, 2019

DNR IDENTIFICATION: ITEMS APPROVED BY THE STATE OF OHIO

• The state of Ohio DNR Comfort Care order form
• Jewelry items (bracelet or necklace) with the Ohio DNR Comfort Care logo

and patient’s identifying information

• A DNR Comfort Care wallet card; or
• A transparent hospital type bracelet with the Ohio DNR Comfort Care logo

and patient’s information

• A person’s printed form of a living will declaration that includes language that

authorizes the withholding or withdrawal of CPR

• Ohio Administrative Code 3701-62-04

Do-not-resuscitate identification.

DNR IDENTIFICATION: OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE LOGO

• All approved DNR identification items in the

Ohio DNR Comfort Care program bear this logo

• This logo can be found on the Ohio DNR

Comfort Care order forms as well as jewelry, bracelets, necklaces, wallet cards, and transparent hospital bracelets

• The Ohio DNR Comfort Care logo

facilitates the ability of Ohio EMS providers and other healthcare providers to rapidly identify individuals who have an Ohio DNR Comfort Care order

THE NEW OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE FORM

(SINGLE PAGE FORMAT)

THE OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE ORDER FORM

IMPORTANT EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR EMS

• A DNR Comfort Care order form may now be completed by a

physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant (hereafter referred to as an authorized healthcare provider)

• While other healthcare providers may be able to accept an Ohio

DNR Comfort Care order form that is signed by an advanced practice registered nurse or a physician assistant, this is not permitted by certified Ohio EMS providers. For certified Ohio EMS providers to accept an Ohio DNR Comfort Care

• rder form, a physician’s signature is required

OHIO LAW THAT AUTHORIZES OHIO EMS PROVIDERS TO PERFORM SERVICES

• Currently, Ohio law only permits certified Ohio EMS

providers to perform services via two avenues:

• 1. Pursuant to written or verbal authorization of physician or

cooperating physician advisory board

• 2. Pursuant to authorization transmitted through a direct

communication device (i.e., on-line medical direction) by a physician, physician assistant designated by a physician, or a registered nurse designated by a physician

Ohio Revised Code 4765.35(D)(1), 4765.37(D)(1), 4765.38(C)(1), 4765.39(C)(1)

THE OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE ORDER FORM

• Must be signed by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse

(APRN), or physician assistant (PA)

• Does not expire and is valid until revoked by the individual (or other

authorized individual or agent)

• Does not have to be signed by the individual

THE OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE FORM

Unlike other advance directives, the Ohio DNR Comfort Care document is the only one that is:

• Transferable across healthcare agencies

and sectors

• With a physician’s signature, can be

recognized by EMS

• Provides liability protection for EMS

and other healthcare providers who follow the DNR protocol

THE OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE ORDER FORM

• EMS shall follow the instructions on the Ohio DNR Comfort Care order

form (original or copies)

• If other orders are written on the Ohio DNR Comfort Care order

form, the additional written orders are not valid and EMS shall not follow them

• If a provider has written additional orders on a state of Ohio DNR

Comfort Care order form, this does not invalidate the DNR Protocol portion of the Ohio DNR Comfort Care order

VALID OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE IDENTIFICATION:

EMS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDER RESPONSE

• DNRCC - Arrest – Provide all medical care necessary, within the provider’s

scope of practice, until the patient experiences cardiac or respiratory arrest, then follow the DNR Comfort Care protocol

• DNRCC - Follow the DNR Comfort Care protocol

DNR does not mean do not treat!

DNR PROTOCOL:

SERVICES TO PROVIDE

• EMS will…
• Conduct an initial assessment
• Perform basic medical care
• Clear airway of obstruction or suction
• If necessary for comfort or to relieve distress, may administer
• xygen, CPAP, or BiPAP
• If necessary, may obtain IV access for hydration or pain medication

to relieve discomfort, but not to prolong death

• If possible, may contact other appropriate health care providers

(hospice, home health, physician, APRN, PA)

PROLONGATION OF DEATH

• The provision of care with the intent of extending the length of

a person’s life even though the measures are anticipated to ultimately be futile as opposed to the provision of comfort measures which support a peaceful onset of death and do not interrupt the natural process of dying

DNR PROTOCOL:

SERVICES TO WITHHOLD

• EMS will not…..
• Perform CPR
• Administer resuscitation medications with the intent of

restarting the heart or breathing

• Insert an airway adjunct
• Defibrillate, cardiovert, or initiate pacing
• Initiate continuous cardiac monitoring

DNR PROTOCOL:

BASIC MEDICAL CARE

• Basic medical care may include, but is not limited to:
• Hemorrhage control
• Immobilizing a suspected injured joint or fractured bone
• Administration of epinephrine for anaphylaxis
• Provide glucose to a diabetic patient with hypoglycemia
• Physical assessment
• Clearing the airway
• Intravenous or intraosseous venous access for non-resuscitative

fluid hydration or administration of analgesics

AUTHORIZED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

• Health care providers authorized to sign a do-not-resuscitate order form

for a person and is limited to the person's:

• Attending physician
• Advanced practice registered nurse working with a collaborating physician
• Physician assistant and the action is taken pursuant to a physician

supervisory plan and approved pursuant to the policies of a health care facility in which the PA is working

• Ohio EMS providers are prohibited from accepting written orders from

advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants

• Ohio Administrative Code 3701-62-01

Definitions.

EMS MEDICAL DIRECTORS: OPERATIONAL ADVISORY

• Ohio EMS providers are prohibited from accepting written orders

from advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants

• EMS medical directors should not provide written protocols directing EMS

providers to accept Ohio DNR Comfort Care order forms signed by advanced practice registered nurses or physician assistants

• EMS medical directors, in partnership with their respective EMS agencies, are

advised to consult their legal counsel for advice on an operational procedure

EMS MEDICAL DIRECTORS: ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISORY

• Analogous to certified Ohio EMS providers, all physician assistants and

registered nurses, including advanced practice registered nurses, are required to function under the authorization of a licensed physician

• Physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses are

required to identify the authorizing physician on the Ohio DNR Comfort Care order form; however, they are currently not mandated to obtain an actual written co-signature from the physician

• A written signature from a physician is still required for Ohio

EMS providers to accept the order in this scenario

EMS MEDICAL DIRECTORS: ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISORY

• Authorization of an advance directive is a distinctly different action than

authorization of termination of resuscitation

• It is not advisable to authorize an advance directive for an individual for which a

physician-patient relationship does not exist especially when the physician has no knowledge of the patient’s name, physical assessment, medical history, personal wishes, or family dynamics

• An EMS medical director providing a “carte blanche” written protocol to accept

Ohio DNR Comfort Care order forms signed by physician assistants or advanced practice registered nurses could potentially be perceived as the primary authorizing physician of record if litigation arises

EMS PROVIDERS OPERATIONAL ADVISORY

• By Ohio law, EMS providers shall only accept written orders from

a physician

• EMS providers shall follow the Ohio DNR Comfort Care Protocol when

presented with an Ohio DNR Comfort Care order form that is signed by a physician

EMS PROVIDERS OPERATIONAL ADVISORY

• Ohio EMS providers are prohibited from accepting written
• rders from advanced practice registered nurses and physician

assistants

• Ohio EMS providers who are presented with an Ohio DNR Comfort

Care order form that is not signed by a physician are advised to exercise

• ne or both of the following options:
• Follow the written protocol for other forms of advance directives, e.g.

attorney-generated documents such as living wills, that has been authorized by their EMS medical director

• Contact medical direction to discuss the potential for termination of

resuscitation

OHIO DNR COMFORT CARE IDENTIFICATION:

REVOCATION

• An individual can revoke their own DNR at any time either verbally or by destroying

the DNR order form or permanently removing the DNR identification items

• An authorized health care provider may revoke an Ohio DNR Comfort Care order by

issuing an order discontinuing the Ohio DNR Comfort Care order and destroying or removing the forms or items of Ohio DNR Comfort Care identification

• When an Ohio DNR Comfort Care form has been discontinued with a valid order, the

authorized health care provider shall ask the patient of the health care facility prior to discharge or transfer if he or she wishes to make another DNR declaration

• Ohio Administrative Code 3701-62-06

Revocation of DNR identification or DNR order.

HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY:

REVOCATION

• An agent acting under a valid Health Care Power of Attorney document
• Can only revoke a DNR order if the agent was the one who requested

and had the DNR order form completed on behalf of the individual

• Unless there is a substantial change in the principal’s (patient’s) medical

condition, a valid Ohio DNR Comfort Care order and/or identification to which the principal consented cannot be overridden or invalidated by the agent acting under the health care power of attorney document

• Ohio Administrative Code 3701-62-10

Relationship of DNR orders and identification with living will declarations and durable powers of attorney for health care.

HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY:

EMS RESPONSE

• If an agent acting under a valid Health Care Power of Attorney document

presents a valid Health Care Power of Attorney document and identification and the individual being treated does not have DNR identification, EMS personnel should follow the written protocol that has been authorized by the medical director of the EMS agency or contact medical direction

• Ohio Revised Codes 4765.35 (D)(1), 4765.37(D)(1), 4765.38(C)(1), 4765.39(C)(1), Authorized services by first

responders, EMT

• basic, EMT
• intermediate, emergency medical technician-paramedic.
• Ohio Administrative Code 3701-62-10

Relationship of DNR orders and identification with living will declarations and durable powers of attorney for health care.

LIVING WILLS

THE EMS RESPONSE

• A living will is not operative until a physician (or physicians)

determines that the individual is in a terminal or permanently unconscious state and no longer able to make informed decisions

• When presented with a living will document, EMS providers should

follow the written protocols that have been authorized by the medical director of their EMS agency

SCENARIO #1

• As an EMS provider, you respond to an unresponsive person at a residence. On

scene, you find an 83 year old male lying in bed. He is pulseless and not

• breathing. His wife states he had a long history of lung cancer, he has been in

hospice care for 3 weeks, and she points to the Ohio DNR Comfort Care bracelet that he is wearing. She tells you he “went peacefully and that he wanted nothing done. At this time, the patient’s son enters the room and loudly demands that you do everything you can for his dad. The son states that “Dad wouldn’t want to go like this. He would want to live longer.”

• What are the appropriate actions to take?

ANSWER TO SCENARIO #1

• The patient is wearing an approved and recognized Ohio DNR Comfort Care

identification bracelet

• EMS personnel shall follow the Ohio DNR Comfort Care protocol
• EMS personnel shall attempt to explain to the son that the patient has a valid

Ohio DNR Comfort Care bracelet, and that EMS is bound by law to follow the expressed choices of the individual

SCENARIO # 2

• As an EMS provider, you respond to an unresponsive person at a nursing
• home. On scene you find an 67 year old female lying in bed. She is pulseless

and not breathing. Nursing staff is performing CPR on the patient. The staff believes the patient recently obtained a DNR order from her physician but they cannot find it. Per your local protocol, you take over CPR and start advanced care. As you are getting your airway equipment ready, a staff member comes into the room and states they found the Ohio DNR Comfort Care document. You examine it and find that it is completed on a Ohio DNR Comfort Care form. It is signed by the physician, but is not signed by the patient.

• What are the appropriate actions that should be taken?

ANSWER TO SCENARIO #2

• Once presented with the Ohio DNR Comfort Care document signed by the

physician, EMS personnel shall discontinue resuscitative efforts and initiate the Ohio DNR Comfort Care protocol

• The signature of the patient on the Ohio DNR Comfort Care document is
• ptional. The absence of a patient’s signature does not invalidate the Ohio DNR

Comfort Care document

SCENARIO #3

• As an EMS responder, you are treating a 91 year old male for acute

respiratory difficulty. In between labored breaths, he mentions to you that he has an Ohio DNR Comfort Care form and shows you his wallet card. You note that the box for “DNR Comfort Care Arrest” is checked. During your initial treatment, the patient becomes unresponsive. Your immediate assessment finds the patient’s pulse is slowing and his respirations seem more difficult.

• What are your initial actions?

ANSWER TO SCENARIO #3

• The EMS providers initial actions are governed by the Ohio DNR Comfort Care

Arrest protocol

• Initial Action:
• Providers will treat patient as any other without an Ohio DNR Comfort

Care order until the patient has a cardiac arrest or a respiratory arrest

SCENARIO #3 (CONTINUED)

• A few minutes after going unresponsive, you notice that the patient’s heartbeat

has stopped.

• Now, what are your actions?

ANSWER TO SCENARIO #3

• As they were earlier, the EMS providers next actions are governed by the Ohio

DNR Comfort Care Arrest protocol

• Next actions -
• At the point of cardiac or respiratory arrest, all resuscitative interventions,

including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and cardiac monitoring, will be discontinued immediately and the comfort measures cited within the Ohio DNR Comfort Care Protocol will be initiated by emergency medical services personnel and other healthcare providers

SCENARIO #4

• You are an EMS provider who arrives at an extended care facility. The staff informs

you that the patient has an Ohio DNR Comfort Care order, but they do not have the form or a copy of it to give to your EMS unit. They request that you proceed with treatment and transport of the patient, and they will fax the Ohio DNR Comfort Care order document to the hospital. Enroute, the patient sustains a cardiopulmonary arrest.

• What is the appropriate action that you should take?

ANSWER TO SCENARIO #4

• In this scenario, there is no definitive documentation that the patient has a

valid Ohio DNR Comfort Care order. The EMS providers should follow the written protocol for the treatment of a cardiopulmonary arrest that has been provided by the EMS agency’s medical director.

• EMS providers are not required to search the patient for DNR identification

such as a wallet card, jewelry, or transparent hospital bracelet. If this form of DNR identification happens to be visible or is incidentally located, then the Ohio DNR Comfort Care Protocol can be initiated

RESOURCES

• Ohio Department of Health: www.odh.ohio.gov, (614) 466-3543
• Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS: www.ems.ohio.gov, (614) 466-9447,

(800) 233-0785

• Laws regarding certified Ohio EMS providers and the requirement for written orders from

a physician or cooperating physician advisory board Emergency medical responder (EMR): http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4765.35 Emergency medical technician (EMT): http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4765.37 Advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT): http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4765.38 Paramedic: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4765.39

• Ohio DNR Comfort Care regulations: http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/3701-62

QUESTIONS ?